<p>I have this bad habit of being too open with my life. Sometimes I get excited and tend to exaggerate details, as a result people take things out of context and I get in trouble or am labeled as hypocritical. I’m very sympathetic, but I sometimes can take things too extreme. I say things when I’m trying to convey a different idea or meaning. I’m getting better but I have difficult articulating my words. I’m super open in real life and online about my personal life.</p>
<p>Is anyone else too open with things? Is it better to be more private than a open book (like me)? Is it that bad? How can I be less of an open book and exaggerate less? How can be more articulate and speak what I really mean? Does anyone have experience with this. Help!</p>
<p>strangely enough, i’m like 90% the same way. buttt, i’m pretty closed off. i can totally relate to “I say things when I’m trying to convey a different idea or meaning” &&& “I have difficult articulating my words”, though. some of what i try to express definitely gets misinterpreted by my friends, some of the time.</p>
<p>i would say, just…try to think before u speak.</p>
<p>That’s not really called being “open”. Chronic exaggeration is entirely different and that is probably why you run into these problems. </p>
<p>Just say what you mean. People tend to be shrewder and more observant than you think, and they will pick up on the perceived lies.</p>
<p>I’m assuming that your problem is saying “OMG, so I went to the cutest crepe shop the other day and I saw this gorgeousss guy. Like, he was a totall ten. And he like totally came over and asked for my number!! And now we’re married :)” as opposed to “I went to this really cute crepe shop the other day and I saw this reallyyy hot guy. And he smiled at me!! OMG!”</p>
<p>EDIT: I’ll just add that I know people like you in real life. When they’re not exaggerating, they’re friendly and open. And although I don’t hold anything against them personally for exaggerating, I do end up doubting them and making that awkward eye contact with other people who also notice. Sharing news and your life stories are much more enjoyable when both parties hold conviction in what is being said.</p>
<p>I’m not very open in conversation. The young things are supposed to all wear their hearts on their sleeves though, so I suppose it’s fine.</p>
<p>No, I don’t have this problem. I’m on the (extreme, I suppose) opposite other end. I don’t share often about myself. The less people know, the better.</p>
<p>As far as the chronic exaggerating issue and being too open, I might need an example of what is something you’d say to someone, that fits in the above.</p>
<p>Do you mean the minor embellishments that people typically say, but is usually obvious the person is exaggerating (usually to make a point,) * or* are you exaggerating to such an extent it’s becoming a lie? And I’m not sure what you’re trying to explain about your connection with exaggeration and being too open. I don’t see the relation you’re trying to make?</p>
<p>I’m a guy and while I’m really closed about my feelings with my guy friends, with girls I usually wear my heart on my sleeve. I feel more comfortable telling my girl-friends things.</p>